Wandering Mercenary in an Open World - Chapter 96

This is a ‘rebirth’ story where Chen Rong, the heroine, finds her second chance at life after burning herself to death. Set in the Eastern Jin era when bureaucrats and their lofty yet equally hypocritical and oppressive ideas once ruled the empire, Chen Rong is made to use her past life’s experience to survive and hopefully find happiness this time around.

- Description from Novelupdates

Shunned by her pack as the Traitor's daughter, Natalie Cross—a werewolf without a wolf—has endured more pain than most could imagine. Forced to bear the mark of a ruthless alpha, rejected by her destined mate, and ultimately banished, she finds herself alone and unwelcome among her kind. With the Alpha's scent branding her as untouchable, no other pack will take her in.Desperate and discarded, Natalie hides among humans, scraping by in a world that doesn’t know or care about her true identity. But everything changes when she crosses paths with an adorable wolf pup—and its enigmatic, wealthy owner. The man offers his help, something no one else has dared to do.Yet, kindness feels like a foreign concept to Natalie. Can she trust this stranger who harbours secrets as deep as her own? Or is his generosity just another trap, promising a fate darker than the one she’s already survived?

Ethan Cross was just an ordinary college student in his past life—until he died trying to save a banker playing hero. Now, he finds himself reincarnated in “New World”, a realm plagued by Dread Beasts, where only those who awaken Aethermarks can become Heroes.But there’s a problem.Ethan has awakened as an E-rank Hero, the weakest tier, cursed with only one ability slot—a death sentence for any aspiring warrior. With no powerful clans willing to recruit him and the world already looking down on him, his future seems bleak.Until he discovers his Innate Talent: Sanctum of Beasts.This mysterious power grants him access to a personal dimension, where he can hunt endless waves of Dread Beasts. Unlike the real world, slaying them in this space drops Ability Fragments, which he can combine to gain abilities without slot restrictions. Even better? Time flows differently—he can train for days, yet only an instant passes in reality.Determined to rise from nothing, Ethan embarks on a secret journey to accumulate power. But as he completes missions and unravels the truth about the Black Pits, he realizes there’s something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.The Hero Association hides dark secrets. Villains roam freely in the shadows. And Dread Beasts may not be the mindless creatures everyone believes them to be.With powerful enemies watching his every move, Ethan must play a dangerous game—remain unnoticed or become the hunter of both beasts and men.But one thing is certain:In this world, strength is everything. And Ethan Cross will carve his own path to the top—no matter the cost.